The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-05-24
4 RESPITE ARRIVES
Just In Time to Save IL s1lln from tile Hang
mans Moose.

mans Moose.
SAVANNAH, GA, May GA correspond
ent gives the full detsils OF the saving Of
Leggct.'s life, for his death hus not vet
been conpssssd, though his neck mas
been in the haugmsn's moose. William
Clifton, his attorney, received on Thurs.
dasy morning, the 18th instant, telesrsms
from Governor Gordon, informing him Of
LegSett's respite for thirty days. Theae
he started with for Tatna!l county on
Thnrsday afternoon. It Was generally
understood throughout tho county that
the execution would take place in the fore.
noon Of the next day. The sun was not
two hours high when people began ar.
irving in the town, some on foot, Others
on horseback, and many in the cracker
carts. The scatiold had been erected in a
field quarter OF mile from the village,
Thither the crowd moved, and steadily
grew in numbers. Leggctt was given
breakfast at seven o'clock, and shortly
aiteward minister Of the gospel was ai.
mitted to his coll. The condemned man
was talked ci the murder Of his wife, said
ai'at 20 was sorry for it and expressed q
-o.a Ut forgiveness. He had not received
any lntima,ion tha. reprieve would be
granted in hia case, and he went shout
preparing 10 pay the penalty Of his crime.
at half past ten he WAS hsndcutied, and
surrounded by Deputy 5heriils, was driy-
en- to the ecatold. Fully 800 people had
collected thete, and M Immense crowd
followed Leggelt and his snar,Is from tho
town. Dozens OF men and boys had
climbed up into the trees to &c. better
view. Hundreds more swarmed over the
carts, standing upon the wheels, eest,,
anywhere that a f0otho!d offered. The
iesting lulled as the prisoner ascendel the
scatiod, but still loud buzz OF excited
comment arose from the throng. After a
lew minutes Of prayer aud O short confess
ion from the murderer, the Sheriff slip
ped the nooee over the prisoners head,
Carefully tightening the rope around bis
neck, aud adjusting tho knot. Tnen the
black cap WIS put on and pulled down
over the prisoner's lace. He had walked
up on the ssllows with q firm step, and
showed little Sign o. nervousness in his
voice rs ho Sang and prayed. He did not
latter when plared on the fatal ,!ap, md
held his hands quietly behind his back to
have them tied toyethpr Uia ant,oo
were next bound tightly with u stout
rope.
Mr. Clifton wss ia his bod in Savannah
when he received the ,ulrvram ,rom Gnv.
ernor Gordon, granting resni,n. Whan
the attorney ieit the ,rgin nj Jnhns,nn,s
Station on the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway, he had forty.fivo milan
to drive through q country no; not,I tor
ia good roads. The breaking of n trars
or an axle, or sny,h;rr hnnnrninc IN
either Of the horses, or any one Of II INN.
dred accidents, Was liable to dolav linn
and prevent his reaching Rci1svillo b.inro
the trap was spsuny,
While Lpysett wns wa,ch;up throuoh
his cell window for thu fi,sl rl.nms n
dawn his faithful LAWYER was urging a
swift pair OF horses scrues tho country at a
gait that covered them with foam. The
hours eped by with equal sapidity TO the
prisoner, and to the man who Was hasten.
ing to save his life. The Shorilt had inst
turned to stop down of tho scsliold pr1.
paratory to cutting tho ropo which hrld
tho trap in the npor, when MIR Clifton
puelled his way into the crowd aud about.
cd:
"Mr. Sheriff, have here a masas,e
from Governor Gordon, directed 10 YOU :"
"Come this way and lot ms spe r." nm.
swered tho Sheriff.
For a moment no. A whisper WAC nj.
tered. Every ono held his brrsth. rhe